ABOUT

“Thank you for an amazing conference making us better grantmakers and partners in the field. And above all, thanks for pushing us to break silos and change systems of oppression through action and example.”-2018 Convening Participant

Connecting, organizing, & mobilizing philanthropy is at the core of NFG’s work.

Our 2018 National Convening provided an opportunity to connect with grantmakers committed to racial, social, economic, and gender justice in the U.S. We shared models, strengthened partnerships, and forged new alliances with the goal of moving resources to support innovative place-based work led by and benefiting communities of color and low-income communities.

Access, accommodations, and Disability statement of intent

In organizing Raise Up we held strongly to the goal to create a space in St Louis where Disabled/chronically ill and Deaf folks shouldn’t need to pass as being able-bodied, healthy or from hearing culture, in order to be present or to participate fully. We arrived at this goal knowing that Disability surrounds us all, is in many ways what is most familiar to us; bodies and minds with differences, chronic illness and Deafness. Ableism lives and breathes at the hub of racism, poverty, displacement, violence, incarceration, state control and more; we chose to begin the work of re-centering Disability into our analysis and anti -ableism into our practice.

We were determined in our attempt to create a gathering informed by the truth that we all lose when Disabled/ill voices and politics are not present. We are clear that the embedding of Disability politics and anti-ableism as issues of racial, economic, Trans and gender justice requires time, exposure, political will and persistence - this is our beginning.

We have a long way to go, yet wanted to start here with Raise Up seeking to be a place where passing was not required for credibility, and participation or value is not dependent upon assimilation.

We are excited to extend this invitation to join us as we lean into Disability and build intentionally towards anti-ableism as a core value and implemented principle of action.